Militants torch NATO tanker in southwestern Pakistan

At least one NATO supply tanker has been torched in a militant attack in the troubled southwestern Pakistan, security sources say.

Local Pakistani police officials said the attack took place in an area of Quetta, the capital of Balochistan Province.

Sources say the driver and his helper managed to escape unhurt from the spot.

Meanwhile, Pakistani security forces sealed off the area to launch a search operation in the volatile region.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack but such incidents are mostly blamed on pro-Taliban militants.

NATO trucks carrying supplies for US-led forces in Afghanistan usually travel from the Pakistani port city of Karachi and cross into Afghanistan.

They have repeatedly come under militant attacks in different parts of Pakistan over the past several years.

Pakistani security forces have launched several operations in the troubled northwestern and southwestern provinces in a bid to flush out militants from the troubled regions.

Despite the Pakistani government’s operations against Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants and associated groups, they have been able to spread their influence in various regions of the country and have killed thousands of people thus far.

Thousands of Pakistanis have lost their lives in bombings and other militant attacks since 2001 when Pakistan entered an alliance with the US in its so-called war against terrorism.